That growing level of activity meant over 32,000 skilled professionals worked to ensure Ontario’s reputation as a high quality and reliable production jurisdiction, which contributes significantly to the province’s $17-billion creative cluster.

The Ontario Media Development Corporation invests in these creative industries, providing both grants and tax credits to Ontario producers, some of whom choose to co-produce with any of the 54 countries, including Switzerland, which have co-production treaties with Canada

“Co-productions connect producers,” says Karen Thorne-Stone, OMDC President & CEO. “And co-producers can gain access to domestic financing and policy structures in their respective countries. Each partner brings different skill sets, new locations and new markets.”

Successful co-productions pool their creative, artistic, technical and financial resources to develop projects that may be eligible for a variety of tax benefits, grants, and services available to Ontario-based productions.

Co-production treaties are administered in Canada by federal funder, Telefilm Canada, The Arts/Les Arts and each co-production treaty is subject to different rules and regulations as outlined by Telefilm and the department of Canadian Heritage. (http://www.telefilm.ca/en/ coproductions/coproductions/guidelines)

Switzerland’s co-production treaty is similar to many of the other treaties with European countries such as France, Germany and the U.K. Most recently at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canadian Heritage Minister Joly re-signed the New Zealand co-production treaty to include digital content and platforms.

A German-Swiss-Canadian co-production, “The Guantanamo Trap” (2011), exemplifies the benefits of the Canada-Swiss agreement. Produced by Amythos Media Inc. and Xenophile Media Inc., this 92-minute feature film documentary examines the impact that the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp had on four interrelated people. In his film review for Canada’s national newspaper, “The Globe and Mail”, journalist Guy Dixon wrote that “The Guantanamo Trap” made for “terrific documentary cinema” and did “a tremendous journalistic service.” It was an official selection at the prestigious Hot Docs, Jerusalem and Thessaloniki film festivals.

If based in Ontario, Canadian-Swiss co-productions also benefit from a wide array of services provided by the OMDC. It may be eligible for a film grant or possible film and television tax credits.

Producers also have unfettered access to the OMDC’s Ontario Film Commission and its vast resources that include pre-production research, location scouting and support, and a welcoming team ready to help the production succeed. It’s innovative database features over 250,000 digital images in 12,000+ locations and is accessible 24/7. Learn more at www.omdc.on.ca

Suzan Ayscough is OMDC’s Head of Communications. sayscough@omdc.on.ca